As many of you already know, I'm a huge fan of Barclay Library here in Warrensburg and all of the outstanding offerings they have for such a small library. Below are a few of their upcoming events. Please consider joining in on the fun!
Saturday, December 3rd - Cookie Walk
9am - Noon
Barclay Library's annual holiday cookie sale will be Saturday, December 3rd from 9-Noon. Delicious homemade holiday cookies and candies will be sold for only $4 per pound. Bring the family so everyone can choose their favorites while you help the Friends of the Library raise funds to support the Summer Reading Club. Volunteers are needed to bake and donate cookies and set-up for the sale.
December 2nd-21st - Christmas Tree Contest
Work as a family to decorate a tree in any theme you wish. Bring a decorated tree to Barclay Library by Thursday, December 1st. Library visitors can vote for their favorite tree by depositing change in each tree’s piggy bank, December 2nd-21st. The tree raising the most funds for library programs will receive a $20 gift card for a business of their choice! Tree must be no larger than 24 inches. Sponsored by Buena Vista National Bank.
Book a Movie - The Help
Midday Matinee - Wednesday, December 7th at Noon. Free light lunch.
Evening Edition - Thursday, December 8th at 6:30 pm. Free popcorn and beverages.
Library on the Go! -
The long awaited upgrade to Library On The Go (LOTG) has finally arrived! Barclay Library cardholders can now download ebooks for Kindle! Most of the ebooks already in the Library On The Go database have been made ready for Kindle users and can be accessed now. “How-to” handouts also available at the library's service desk.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
ThinkLink Testing
As I've mentioned before, students recently completed the second round of Discovery Education's ThinkLink testing. The computerized test is based on the recently adopted Common Core Standards. Illinois is one of 45 states who have implemented these new standards. The mission of the Common Core is to:
The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.
While the curriculum here at Warrensburg-Latham already incorporates many of the important aspects of Common Core, if you are interested in learning more, you can visit the official Common Core frequently asked questions. for more information.
The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.
While the curriculum here at Warrensburg-Latham already incorporates many of the important aspects of Common Core, if you are interested in learning more, you can visit the official Common Core frequently asked questions. for more information.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Supplies
Many students are at the point where they are starting to run out of paper, pens, lead for mechanical pencils, and other basic supplies. If you get the chance, please ask your student how his/her supplies are holding up. I've given out a slew of pencils lately and am starting to run low myself :)
Email Address Changes
Have you updated the email address that the school has on file? In the last few weeks, I've tried to send a handful of emails that have been rejected because the parent email address is no longer valid. I know that several of you receive this email at a different address than the one that is on file for your student. If you've stopped using a particular account, please make sure that we've got your latest address. Thanks!
What's Going on in Writing?
As we approach the end of November, students are busy wrapping up their novels. I've been so impressed by the dedication and quality of the work that students are putting out! At the start of the project, I asked all students to put away their "Inner Editor" - that voice in their head that gets caught up in grammar mistakes or punctuation errors and keeps the student from getting his/her ideas down on paper. Now that students are finishing up, we will bring those Inner Editors back out and start cleaning up the novels. Students are responsible for the first read through of their novel, and we will also be using peer editing to help catch common errors and mistakes.
Later, we will also be asking you to complete a parent edit. Please note that I'm not asking to fix every single tiny mistake in the novel. After all, the novel was written by a 7th grader and it should still sound like that. Instead, I want you to enjoy your student's novel. Point out any obvious problems with clarity, focus or organization - but feel free to layer on the praise! Your student has put a ton of time and energy into this story. For most, this is the longest and most developed writing they have ever done. It's definitely time to celebrate the accomplishment!
One of the perks of "winning" NaNoWriMo (aka - meeting your word count goal) is earning a free professional proof copy of the novel. Once the contest ends, students who met their goal will receive a free promo code. Once those arrive, I'll be sending more specific instructions on how to redeem it.
Later, we will also be asking you to complete a parent edit. Please note that I'm not asking to fix every single tiny mistake in the novel. After all, the novel was written by a 7th grader and it should still sound like that. Instead, I want you to enjoy your student's novel. Point out any obvious problems with clarity, focus or organization - but feel free to layer on the praise! Your student has put a ton of time and energy into this story. For most, this is the longest and most developed writing they have ever done. It's definitely time to celebrate the accomplishment!
One of the perks of "winning" NaNoWriMo (aka - meeting your word count goal) is earning a free professional proof copy of the novel. Once the contest ends, students who met their goal will receive a free promo code. Once those arrive, I'll be sending more specific instructions on how to redeem it.
3rd Quarter AR Project - Due Jan 25/26
If your student is planning to work ahead, this is the first AR Project of 3rd Quarter. It will be due on January 25/26.
For this project, you will need to read one book. It can be either fiction or non-fiction. After you finish the book, you have the option of completing one of three projects:
1. Create a new ending for your book – You should first summarize the original (1 paragraph at least), then offer your new version (3 paragraphs), and finally explain why you like your version better (1 paragraph). The paragraphs should be 5-10 sentences and well developed. Think about what makes a good ending for a book and be sure to discuss what happens to all of your main characters – not just one of them. Make sure your ending seems appropriate and fits with the rest of the book. You’ll be graded on meeting all requirements, having good details, being neat and legible, using correct grammar and punctuation, and appearing original and interesting.
2. Create an attractive book jacket for your book. You will need to design a cover that features the title, author and appropriate images. You will also need to include at least one paragraph of information about the author and a four-paragraph summary of the book on the back cover. The paragraphs should be 5-10 sentences and well developed. Make sure you examine other book jackets to learn the appropriate placement of author information and summary. You’ll be graded on meeting all requirements, having an attractive and colorful appearance, being neat and legible, using correct grammar and punctuation, and appearing original and interesting.
3. Select one of the major characters from your book. You should write six diary entries that discuss your character’s reactions to what is happening to him or her in the book. Each diary entry should be at least two paragraphs. The paragraphs should be 5-10 sentences and well developed. You’ll be graded on meeting all requirements, having good details, being neat and legible, using correct grammar and punctuation, and appearing original and interesting.
All projects should include the full title of the book and the author’s name somewhere on the project. Please see me if you have any questions on your options. Good luck!
For this project, you will need to read one book. It can be either fiction or non-fiction. After you finish the book, you have the option of completing one of three projects:
1. Create a new ending for your book – You should first summarize the original (1 paragraph at least), then offer your new version (3 paragraphs), and finally explain why you like your version better (1 paragraph). The paragraphs should be 5-10 sentences and well developed. Think about what makes a good ending for a book and be sure to discuss what happens to all of your main characters – not just one of them. Make sure your ending seems appropriate and fits with the rest of the book. You’ll be graded on meeting all requirements, having good details, being neat and legible, using correct grammar and punctuation, and appearing original and interesting.
2. Create an attractive book jacket for your book. You will need to design a cover that features the title, author and appropriate images. You will also need to include at least one paragraph of information about the author and a four-paragraph summary of the book on the back cover. The paragraphs should be 5-10 sentences and well developed. Make sure you examine other book jackets to learn the appropriate placement of author information and summary. You’ll be graded on meeting all requirements, having an attractive and colorful appearance, being neat and legible, using correct grammar and punctuation, and appearing original and interesting.
3. Select one of the major characters from your book. You should write six diary entries that discuss your character’s reactions to what is happening to him or her in the book. Each diary entry should be at least two paragraphs. The paragraphs should be 5-10 sentences and well developed. You’ll be graded on meeting all requirements, having good details, being neat and legible, using correct grammar and punctuation, and appearing original and interesting.
All projects should include the full title of the book and the author’s name somewhere on the project. Please see me if you have any questions on your options. Good luck!
What's Going on in Reading?
We've just started in on our new *cue British accent* Drama & Theater Unit! Many students are very excited to get the chance to express themselves through drama. We will be reading two plays in class: The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street and A Christmas Carol. The Monsters play is actually a teleplay from an original episode of The Twilight Zone, and A Christmas Carol is a middle school-friendly version of the original tale. In addition to our reading, we will also be learning theater terms and including some improvisational activities as well.
This week, we will also be completing the latest round of ThinkLink testing. I will use this information to help plan future RtI activities to improve areas where students are continuing to struggle and reinforce concepts that they seem to understand.
The last AR project of 2nd quarter is due December 8/9. Many students have already finished their book and are busy wrapping up the project. Because so many students are working ahead, I will also be passing out the AR information for the first project of 3rd quarter for those that are interested getting a head start over the Christmas break.
This week, we will also be completing the latest round of ThinkLink testing. I will use this information to help plan future RtI activities to improve areas where students are continuing to struggle and reinforce concepts that they seem to understand.
The last AR project of 2nd quarter is due December 8/9. Many students have already finished their book and are busy wrapping up the project. Because so many students are working ahead, I will also be passing out the AR information for the first project of 3rd quarter for those that are interested getting a head start over the Christmas break.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Kleenex
As we enter the cold and flu season, we're flying through our Kleenex supply and are already down to our last two boxes. If you have the means to send in a box or two to help us out, the students - and their runny noses! - would greatly appreciate your generosity. Thanks again!
Looking for a Good Gift?
If you are someone who likes to get a headstart on your holiday shopping, consider giving your student a book or two in their stocking. These are all titles or authors that other students are recommending as good reads:
Maze Runner series
All the Lovely Bad Ones – Hahn
Son of Neptune and other books by Rick Riordan
Found Series
Carl Hiaason books
Hunger Games series
Racing in the Rain
Anything but Typical
Also Known as Harper
Margaret Peterson Haddix books
Alex Flinn books
Lawn Boy and its sequel
Matched and its sequel Crossed
Mike Lupica books
The Hunt for the Seventh
More mystery and horror books
Books about the outdoors, hunting, and survival skills
Gordon Korman books
Roland Smith books
Dave Pelzer books
Sarah Dessen books
I'll Be There - Holly Goldberg Sloan
The False Princess - Eilis O'Neal
Wendy Mass books
New notebooks, pens and other school supplies are also useful as we start the second semester!
New notebooks, pens and other school supplies are also useful as we start the second semester!
Friday, November 11, 2011
What's Going on in Writing?
We're continuing to work on developing our sentence diagramming skills with the introduction of direct and indirect objects. Next, we'll be including predicate adjectives, predicate nouns, and predicate pronouns!
Our main focus for the entire month is on National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. The goal is simply to push students to write more than they've ever written before. By the end of the month, the students will have completed their very own novel. Each student was given a word count goal at the beginning of November, and is busy working toward that goal. Every student who reaches their goal will also have the opportunity to have a copy of their novel professionally published. You can visit http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/ for more information about NaNoWrimo. I've read short excerpts of each novel so far, and they are truly fantastic. Feel free to ask your student to share what he/she had written so far! I really think you'll be amazed at some of the work they've already put in.
Our main focus for the entire month is on National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. The goal is simply to push students to write more than they've ever written before. By the end of the month, the students will have completed their very own novel. Each student was given a word count goal at the beginning of November, and is busy working toward that goal. Every student who reaches their goal will also have the opportunity to have a copy of their novel professionally published. You can visit http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/ for more information about NaNoWrimo. I've read short excerpts of each novel so far, and they are truly fantastic. Feel free to ask your student to share what he/she had written so far! I really think you'll be amazed at some of the work they've already put in.
AR #2 for Second Quarter - Due Dec 8/9
The first AR projects of second quarter have just been turned in. The A-Z lists were fantastic, and I was so very impressed at the number of students who went above and beyond and turned their list into books, PowerPoints, or added illustrations to their final products. Great work!
The second and final project of the quarter will be due on Dec 8/9. Many students have already made substantial reading progress. In fact, there are quite a few students who are actually reading books for projects in the third and fourth quarter. Below is the project explanation for the next project:
For this project, you will need to read one book. After you finish the book, you have the option of completing one of three projects:
1. After reading a book of history or historical fiction (ETA - many other types of books will work as well), create a timeline of your book and draw a map of its location. Your timeline should feature at least 10 important events of your book placed in chronological order. Your map needs to be neat, colorful, and feature at least five important places in your book.
2. Read a book that has been turned into a movie. After watching the movie, write a 2 page essay that explains the similarities and differences between the two versions. Make sure your book was a book first, and not just a copy of the screenplay of the movie. Your essay needs to be typed or written in black pen.
3. Create a sculpture of the main character from your book. You can use whatever materials you can find - soap, wood, clay, sticks, wire, stones, or any other object but you cannot use dolls, action figures, etc.. You should also attach a half page explanation of how this character changes throughout the novel.
All projects should include the full title of the book and the author’s name somewhere on the project. Please see me if you have any questions on your options. Good luck!
The second and final project of the quarter will be due on Dec 8/9. Many students have already made substantial reading progress. In fact, there are quite a few students who are actually reading books for projects in the third and fourth quarter. Below is the project explanation for the next project:
For this project, you will need to read one book. After you finish the book, you have the option of completing one of three projects:
1. After reading a book of history or historical fiction (ETA - many other types of books will work as well), create a timeline of your book and draw a map of its location. Your timeline should feature at least 10 important events of your book placed in chronological order. Your map needs to be neat, colorful, and feature at least five important places in your book.
2. Read a book that has been turned into a movie. After watching the movie, write a 2 page essay that explains the similarities and differences between the two versions. Make sure your book was a book first, and not just a copy of the screenplay of the movie. Your essay needs to be typed or written in black pen.
3. Create a sculpture of the main character from your book. You can use whatever materials you can find - soap, wood, clay, sticks, wire, stones, or any other object but you cannot use dolls, action figures, etc.. You should also attach a half page explanation of how this character changes throughout the novel.
All projects should include the full title of the book and the author’s name somewhere on the project. Please see me if you have any questions on your options. Good luck!
What's Going on in Reading?
Our focus in reading class continues to be on nonfiction selections. Students have read about the painter Rembrandt, a man who studied snowflakes under a microscope, what it's like to be an astronaut, and even what life was really like as a cowboy. Throughout our study, we're continuing to incorporate new strategies - like using textbook feature to guide our reading. Textbook features include the title, headings, boldfaced words, pictures, and other elements of a written selection that help us to preview and understand what we are about to read. We've also been applying these same skills when using textbooks in science and history.
We're continuing to work on developing our vocabulary skills. In A Day Reading classes, students are piloting a program referred to as RtI All Stars, where they meet in small groups with myself to work on very specific skills to improve their reading and comprehension skills. Presently, we are focusing on vocabulary in context. Basically, if a student runs across a word they do not know, can they tell what it means from the way it's used in the sentence? Or if the word has more than one meaning, can they tell which is the correct meaning from it's context?
My 6th Hour Reading class is also piloting a program of its own. The AMP reading series features high interest nonfiction topics at an accessible level for middle schoolers. Currently, these students are reading about Nature's Fury - including wildfires in California and storm chasing across Tornado Alley. The AMP series also focuses on identifying the main idea, writing accurate summaries, and improving vocabulary skills.
Looking Ahead:
Nov 18/21 - Nonfiction Unit Test for 1st, 3rd & 7th Hours
Dec 8/9 - AR Project #2 Due
We're continuing to work on developing our vocabulary skills. In A Day Reading classes, students are piloting a program referred to as RtI All Stars, where they meet in small groups with myself to work on very specific skills to improve their reading and comprehension skills. Presently, we are focusing on vocabulary in context. Basically, if a student runs across a word they do not know, can they tell what it means from the way it's used in the sentence? Or if the word has more than one meaning, can they tell which is the correct meaning from it's context?
My 6th Hour Reading class is also piloting a program of its own. The AMP reading series features high interest nonfiction topics at an accessible level for middle schoolers. Currently, these students are reading about Nature's Fury - including wildfires in California and storm chasing across Tornado Alley. The AMP series also focuses on identifying the main idea, writing accurate summaries, and improving vocabulary skills.
Looking Ahead:
Nov 18/21 - Nonfiction Unit Test for 1st, 3rd & 7th Hours
Dec 8/9 - AR Project #2 Due
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